Senate debates
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Meeting (1 speech)
If there is no objection, the meetings are authorised.
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (9 speeches)
I seek leave to move a motion relating to the routine of business—namely, the Albanese government's toxic taxes on housing, savings, investment, small business and younger Australians as...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Statements by Senators (0 speeches)
- Buckskin, Professor Peter, AM, PSM (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge the passing of Professor Peter Buckskin. On behalf of the government, I extend my condolences to his two children, Peter and Lorraine, his nephew Daniel, his...
- Australia Post, Pesticides, Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (1 speech)
It's always a great thing to get out of our capital cities and into regional Australia. I was lucky enough last week to spend some time in the bush, in particular in a great little country town...
- One Nation (2 speeches)
Senator Pauline Hanson likes to present herself as a patriot, but here is the truth of the matter: she is no patriot. The truth is, she seeks to destroy Australian values. The truth is, Senator...
- Paid Parental Leave, Early Childhood Education and Care (1 speech)
Labor is the party of working families. Just one week from today, on 1 July, life gets that little bit easier for families right across the country. In one week, the Albanese government expands...
- Tasmania: Foreign Investment (1 speech)
On 10 March this year, TasFarmers wrote to me—and a number of other colleagues and government ministers for that matter—and expressed concerns with respect to the proposed sale of...
- Agritourism (1 speech)
I rise today to speak about agritourism in Australia, and it's an important opportunity to tell a better story about our regions, our farmers, our food and our communities. Agritourism sounds...
- Mining Industry: Olympic Dam (1 speech)
Last week, the South Australian parliament gave BHP the go-ahead for a $25 billion expansion of Olympic Dam, one of the world's largest copper mines, till 2086—another 60 years of...
- Coalition (2 speeches)
The coalition has a storied past of locking in inequality. Their contempt and disregard for the majority of hardworking Australians is nothing short of dishonest and downright disgraceful, to be...
- Australian Parliament (1 speech)
Great speech, Senator Hanson. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I agree with everything you said. For my entire life, we have been promised smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom. Yet, year...
- Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, Housing (2 speeches)
While those on the opposite side of the chamber seek to divide everyday Australians and denigrate Australian workers, our government is concentrating and focusing on delivering for everyday...
- Economy (1 speech)
Australia is sitting on a Labor debt bomb. Yes, Australia went into debt during the pandemic, necessary debt to face a once-in-a-hundred-year pandemic challenge. But, since that time, Labor's...
- Victor Harbor Regional Community, Sport and Recreation Precinct (1 speech)
I rise today to celebrate some fantastic news for the community of Victor Harbor and the wider southern Fleurieu region. Last month the Albanese government announced $2.5 million in funding for...
- One Nation (1 speech)
Last week we saw on the media platform one of the most hateful, disgusting and cruel addresses that I have ever seen. It was a dystopian vision of Australia from Senator Hanson—mean, cruel...
- Gender and Sexual Orientation (1 speech)
If you're a regulation Australian male in 2026, you might actually be excused for wondering what this country has on offer for you anymore. You get told from an early age that your masculinity is...
- Multiculturalism (1 speech)
That's certainly not the Australia that I encounter when I travel the country, and they are not the discussions that I have with men around the country at those times. It says a lot about what...
- Budget (2 speeches)
Australians are watching in horror as Labor's disgusting giant tax grab of a budget, which punishes aspiration, breaks promises and makes Australia poorer, is being rammed through parliament off...
- Wages and Salaries (1 speech)
I rise to recognise a significant victory for young workers and to acknowledge the advocacy of the SDA union through its 'Adult Age = Adult Wage' campaign. I was proud to meet with many SDA...
- Gas Industry: Taxation (1 speech)
Australians are struggling because Labor, the LNP and One Nation care more about pandering to their gas donors and their billionaire backers than about teachers and parents who are raising our...
- Albanese Government (1 speech)
The Albanese government is tanking in the polls. We all know that. And who is surprised? Not me. Australians will forgive mistakes, incompetence and even the occasional bad policies, but...
- Wages and Salaries (1 speech)
I rise today to acknowledge an historic win for young Australian workers: the SDA's successful 'Adult Age = Adult Wage' campaign. This reform recognises a simple but powerful principle: if you...
- Environmental Conservation (1 speech)
Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions. We are one of the only developed countries in the world still driving large-scale deforestation. On nature, our record is, tragically, one of the...
- Court Network (1 speech)
Court Network is a free community court support service run by volunteers in four courts across the country. Volunteers attend court and accompany people who are going through their court...
- Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (1 speech)
I rise to speak of an issue that should make all Australians furious because Australians work hard, they pay their taxes and, when they pay their taxes, they expect that their taxpayer money will...
- Workplace Relations (2 speeches)
I always find it interesting to see members of the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation get so worked up whenever we say they're a uni party. Let's have a look at this. Just yesterday, independent...
- Questions without Notice (0 speeches)
- Taxation (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. CPA Australia has publicly stated that the Prime Minister's capital gains tax changes could force Australians to...
- Women's Economic Security (8 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Women, Senator Gallagher. In one week's time, our Paid Parental Leave scheme will reach a full 26 weeks, the biggest expansion of the scheme in its history. Can...
- Superannuation (22 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Will the government expand its ban on super funds buying houses to APRA regulated institutional and union backed...
- Palestine (10 speeches)
My question is to Minister Wong. Minister, a new independent UN report has found Israel consistently, directly and intentionally targeted individual children across Gaza. It documents the use of...
- Wages and Salaries (9 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. The Albanese Labor government understands that Australians are doing it tough right...
- Indigenous Housing (8 speeches)
My question is for the Minister for Indigenous Australians. Over a dozen Aboriginal families in Mount Isa are facing homelessness after the local council decided to auction off their homes...
- Taxation (18 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Last year, the Prime Minister, on the election trail, promised not to raise taxes on superannuation. When he was...
- Budget (10 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer, Minister Gallagher. Minister, why is it that the government is seeking, in the tax reform legislation before the parliament, to remove...
- Indigenous Australians (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy. Remote communities across northern Australia have faced significant challenges following cyclones and flooding events....
- Taxation Bills (24 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. CPA Australia has warned that Labor's capital gains tax changes could capture inherited assets and important family...
- Energy (11 speeches)
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. At a time when global energy markets are under pressure, Australian wind, solar and...
- Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers (0 speeches)
- Answers to Questions (5 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of answers to all coalition questions during question time today. I want to talk about three issues arising from question time today in terms of the answers...
- Palestine (2 speeches)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) to a question without notice I asked today relating to Palestine. Israel's depraved,...
- Indigenous Housing (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Indigenous Australians (Senator McCarthy) to a question without notice I asked today relating to Indigenous housing....
- Budget (1 speech)
I move: That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the budget. The government has decided...
- Condolences (0 speeches)
- Crossin, Ms Patricia Margaret (Trish), AM (12 speeches)
It is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 13 April 2026 of Trish Crossin AM, a former senator for the Northern Territory from 1998 to 2013.
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Presentation (1 speech)
On behalf of the Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation, I give notice of my intention, at the giving of notices on the next day of sitting, to withdraw business of the...
- Party Office Holders (0 speeches)
- National Party of Australia (1 speech)
by leave—as acting Nationals Senate leader, I advise the Senate that Senator Cadell will continue in the role of Nationals Whip.
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Public Works Joint Committee; Reference (1 speech)
At the request of Senator Gallagher, I move government business notices of motion Nos 1 to 3 together: GOVERNMENT BUSINESS NOTICE OF MOTION NO. 1 That, in accordance with the provisions of the...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Leave of Absence (1 speech)
by leave—I move: That leave of absence be granted to Senator Lambie from 12 to 14 May 2026, and 22 June to 22 July 2026, for personal reasons. Question agreed to. by leave—I move:...
- Bills (0 speeches)
- Committees (0 speeches)
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Notices (0 speeches)
- Withdrawal (1 speech)
I withdraw general business notice of motion No. 522, standing in my name.
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Business (0 speeches)
- Rearrangement (2 speeches)
At the request of Senator Cash, I move: That the resolution relating to the hours of meeting and routine of business for 23 to 29 June 2026, agreed to on 23 June 2026, be amended as follows: (1)...
- Documents (0 speeches)
- Matters of Urgency (0 speeches)
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (16 speeches)
Senator McKim has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, which has been circulated and is shown on the Dynamic Red: That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of...
- Matters of Public Importance (0 speeches)
- Housing (8 speeches)
Senator Bragg has submitted a proposal, under standing order 75, today, which has been circulated and is shown on the Dynamic Red: Labor's housing agenda is another broken promise, with the Prime...
- Bills (0 speeches)
